“If you find something very difficult to achieve yourself, don’t imagine it impossible — for anything possible and proper for another person can be achieved as easily by you.”

The Power of Belief in Our Potential

Foreword: Stoicism teaches us that what's possible for others is possible for us too. Embrace this wisdom to overcome your own difficulties.

Copy of the provided quote: “If you find something very difficult to achieve yourself, don’t imagine it impossible — for anything possible and proper for another person can be achieved as easily by you.” - Marcus Aurelius

Modern Translation: If someone else can do it, so can you. Don't put limits on your potential.

Questions:

• What's one challenging goal you believe is out of your reach?

• Do you tend to compare yourself to others in a way that discourages you?

• How can you reframe your thoughts about your own capabilities?
  
  

Simple Explanation: This quote from Marcus Aurelius highlights a key mindset shift in Stoic philosophy. We often underestimate ourselves and hold ourselves back from achieving our full potential. Stoics invite us to challenge that limiting self-belief. Remember, human potential isn't fixed – if others can achieve something, we have the capacity to as well.

Deep Dive: Stoics were deeply concerned with living a life of virtue and believed that obstacles are simply opportunities to practice those virtues. Marcus Aurelius himself, while emperor of Rome, faced incredible challenges yet continued to find inner peace. The Stoic mindset doesn't focus on wishing things were different, but on tapping into our inner strength to persevere regardless of external conditions.

This mindset is echoed by other Stoics. Seneca, in his Letters from a Stoic, reminds us that "What is quite unendurable when once begun becomes pleasant with practice." Similarly, Epictetus says, "Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself."

It's important to note that Stoicism isn't about blind optimism. It's about self-awareness, discipline, and finding power within ourselves to meet challenges. Imagine the things you could accomplish if you stopped holding yourself back from achieving your true potential.

Applicable Situations

• Feeling stuck in a difficult career transition.

• Facing a health challenge that seems insurmountable.

• Struggling to break habits that feel out of your control.
  
  

Action Items:

• Seek out examples of people overcoming similar challenges to remind yourself of what's possible.

• Break down big goals into smaller, manageable steps.

• Talk to a trusted friend or mentor and ask for their perspective and support.
  
  

Modern Connections: We see examples of this in the grit and resilience of athletes like Simone Biles. Biles has been transparent about overcoming mental health challenges, showing that even the most successful face obstacles, yet we don't have to let those obstacles define us. Or perhaps consider the story of Nelson Mandela, whose unwavering commitment to justice ultimately triumphed over decades of brutal imprisonment.

This quote speaks to our tendency to underestimate ourselves, and the transformative power of belief. Think about the iconic underdog stories in sports movies like Rocky or Rudy. These films strike a chord because they remind us that what we believe about our limits often dictates our outcomes. This aligns with the Stoic perspective that self-imposed limitations are a major obstacle to our potential.

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